3Stories - April 13, 2026

We are fortunate as Americans, even though there have been challenges, to have a Constitution that provides for free speech and freedom of religion.  However, there are not only officials in the U.S. but in other countries as well who have a different idea about these cornerstone freedoms.

Take Canada, for instance.  As The New York Post published recently, from a Fox News piece:

Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, introduced by Canadian Liberal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, passed the House of Commons on March 25 and now heads to the Senate.

The measure would expand Canada’s hate speech laws, create a new hate-crime offense, and add penalties for intimidating or blocking people from accessing houses of worship, cultural spaces, schools, senior residences, and cemeteries.

The article notes that, "Christian and Muslim groups say the change could chill sermons, religious debate, and other faith-based expression, while the Liberal government and some Jewish advocacy groups say the bill is aimed at combating antisemitism, not criminalizing religion."  It quotes member of Parliament Andrew Lawton, who says: "the legislation could leave faith communities vulnerable to prosecution for sharing their beliefs or quoting Scripture."

Mission Network News reported recently on the court ruling against a member of Parliament in Finland who faces punishment for speaking out from a faith perspective. MNN quoted Floyd Brobbel of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, who stated: "The concern remains that the loosening of the definition of hate could, in fact, in the long run, do exactly what they say the bill will not do.”  

MNN said: "At a deeper level, the situation raises questions about how religious beliefs are interpreted in modern legal systems — whether they are assessed on evidence or increasingly through the lens of perceived offense. Some observers see parallels between the developments in Finland and what could potentially unfold in Canada."

While members of Congress are supporting a bill that would restrict the distribution of the so-called "abortion pill" by withdrawing approval by the Food and Drug Administration, state-level attempts to remove one way for women to terminate their pregnancies have been advancing.  Liberty Counsel reported on three states who have taken concrete steps; its website reports:

• "Mississippi legislators passed House Bill 1613, which amends the state’s overall drug trafficking laws, and classifies sending abortion pills into the state as a form of drug trafficking when prescribed without an in-person visit and with the intent to cause an abortion."  Also,
• "Tennessee’s House Bill 5, which advanced out of the state assembly’s House Health Committee to the state Senate, aims to hold out-of-state abortion pill distributors liable in wrongful death lawsuits if drugs mailed into the state caused the death of a unborn child." And,
• "...the Arizona House of Representatives advanced HB 2364 that would make 'providing an abortion-inducing drug via courier, delivery, or mail service' a felony carrying a prison sentence of up to four years. The bill would also make ordering abortion drugs—not just mailing them—a class one misdemeanor, which would carry a penalty of up to six months in jail or fines of up to $2,500."

And, recently, as Family Research Council reported, a federal judge declined to issue a stay in a case brought by the state of Louisiana against the distribution of the abortion pill, but issued a warning to the FDA.  FRC President Tony Perkins stated: "In deference to the executive branch, the court agreed to allow the FDA to complete the review it has promised, but the FDA has not even indicated whether this review has started to this day. The court has given the FDA no more than six months to report on its progress. The court's message seems to be 'we are watching!'"

Times Square in New York City has become one of those national gathering places where people gather in large numbers.  And, on the evening of Easter Sunday, thousands came out to worship the Lord and declare that Jesus is alive!  CBN.com reported that Pastor Mike Signorelli hosted the gathering, stating:

Thousands of people attended the services, packing the popular tourist destination while Signorelli proclaimed the Gospel. It was a moment motivated and inspired by prayer.

The service was also televised globally, with more than 40,000 people watching online. And Signorelli said his team received messages indicating more than 600 people made a decision to follow Christ during one part of the event.

The article went on to quote the pastor as saying, “I live in New York City with my family, so I’ve got two daughters, and my wife and I are just trying to be a light in the darkness,” adding, “And of course, New York City is getting incredibly dark, and whether it’s false religions, whether it’s witchcraft and … we’ve just seen politically it’s an incredibly dark place.”  The article noted, "Signorelli said he was praying about what he could do on Easter to help stem the tide of chaos and felt that doing a service in Times Square would be a powerful vehicle."

With approval from the mayor's office, the service went forward.  The pastor had said, "So I think God’s making a big statement. This is bigger than me, bigger than our church. I think this is really about Jesus Christ.”  He said, "I believe God divinely and supernaturally opened this door.”